Air motor for lubricating pumps



Peb.. 20, 19451 G, H. PALM 2,370,068

A'IR MOTOR FOR LUBRICATING PUMPS vFiled Nov. 1, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 1 j my xlk/ @3H 1 y Feb 20, E945. G. H. PALM 2,370,068

AIR MOTOR FOR LUBRICATING PUMPS Filed Nov. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 20, 1945 AIR MOTOR FOR LUBRICA-TING PUMPS y(insorge Il. Palm, Chicago, lll., assigner to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 1.1.1.,a cor..

poration of Virginia Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,516

1 6 Claims.

My invention relates to air motors for lubricating pumps and is more particularly concerned with, but not limited to, an air motor adapted for use on a portable 'lubricating pump which can be manually applied to and removed from the top of a lubricant drum in which lubricant is shipped from the refinery.

In automotive lubricating practice itis common for service stations and garages to vutilize lubrieating pumps which can 'be applied directly to the lubricant drums in which lubricant is shipped from the lubricant rcilnery, Such pumps extend down into the lubricant drum and discharge the lubricant through a discharge hose usually provided with a control valve having a coupler T01 coupling directly to the lubricant :fittings or n ipples attached to the chassis bearings of the automotive vehicle. Such lubricant pumps are commonly operated either by electricity or compressed air.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved air motor particularly adapted for operating such a lubricant pump.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air motor for lubricating pumps and wherein new and improved means is provided for controlling the yflow of air to .reverse the direction of pump movement.

Another object of my .invention is to provide an air motor for lubricating pumps having new and improved air control valve mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved .air motor which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and durable and reliable in service. r

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved 4air motor which vrequires a minimum number of castings and which can be made largely of metal tubing or Darts formed by stamping operations.

Other objects and advantages will'beccme apparent as the description proceeds..

In .the drawings:

Figure .1 Vis .a vertical sectional view through an .air motor embodying s. preferred'form of my invention;

Figure `2' is an exploded view showing the several parts of vthe air control valve in separated relation; and 4 Figure 3 is an .enlarged view of the yupper part of Figure 1 but showing the y'parts in 'a different position.

The embodiment yof my invention which lI have illustrated in the drawings comprises a lower casting l0 secured by bolts I2, or in any other suitable manner, to a cover I4 which may be applied directly over the upper end of a lubricant drum after the small closure in the upper end of the drum as it comes Vfrom the renery has rst been removed. A tubular portion I6 of the lubricant pump housing depends into the vinterior of the drumY and supports any conventional pumping mechanisrnwhich is operated by a driving rod L8. The lubricant discharged by the pumping mechanism ilovvs upwardly between the tube i6 and rod I8 andis delivered to a discharge conduit 20 which is preferably of the exible type and Vwhich may be provided with any suitable control valve and coupler, in accordance with usual practice.

An air cylinder 22 preferably formed from a section of Ametal pipe is threaded to the upper end of the casting l0. as indicated at 2&4. he upper end of the cylinder 22 ,is threaded at 26 to a bodsT 28 containing the control valve mecha nisrh .for regulating the .admission and discharge of the operating air. .A Second dir cylinder .30 is threaded at 32 to the upper body '28 and is closed at the opposite end by a .cap 34. The cylinders 2.2 and 30 may be identical .and formed by the same process from .the saine piece of tubing Q1' metal pipe- The .cover '.34 may be yfouned es a stamping of sheet metal threaded 'by any usual or desirable ineens.

The body 2.8 issurrounded by a metal Sleeve 36 whichmay be formed by .a casting process or may be ,machined from e piece .of metal pipe er tubing.- 'lhe .body 2,8 has a pair of opposed .Shoulders 38 and 4,0, one of which .is engaged by .a Shoulder v 42 of the sleeve 36- .'.Slhe shoulder 4 0 ofthe body 23 is. engaged, bye .tubular hut 44 which is threaded into the lower ehdof .the'sleeve 36.. Theelceve 3 6 has o boss 46 weldedor otherwise ysecured thereto. This bees .is hiternallv threaded as indicatedst 4 8 to receive the nipple 50 f of an air supplyhose 52 which cdllilects 'the air ,motor with a pressure tank er any other suitable :source of ,supply for vair under pressure. 'The Vbody 2:8 is composed .of a lpairfof identical castings 54 and Sli which provide :the shoulders 38 `and -40 and are held together by :sleeve '36 and nut '44. The castings v5.4 and 56 are `held in spaced relation to each ,other 'by upper :and lower rings 58 and 60 which lare shown more :clearly in Figure `2. A flexible annular valve member vr62 .is clamped between the rings 58 Y-and 60 and is adapted alternately yto engage annular valve seats`63 and PB4 provided by the castings 54 and k56, respectively.

The sleeve 36 is provided with an inlet opening 66 communicating with the air supply pipe 52 and connecting this pipe with an annular space 68 formed between the sleeve 36 and the rings 58 and 68. The ring 58 has semi-circular openings 'l0 which connect the annular space 68 with a chamber 'l2 located between the valve member 62 and the casting 54. The ring 60 is also provided with semi-circular openings '|4 which connect the annular space 68 with a chamber 16 located between the valve member 62 and the casting58.

The upper end of the driving rod I 8 is threaded into a piston 'I8 located in the cylinder 22. This piston is formed of a pair oi sheet metal stampings 88 and 82v which may be spot welded or otherwise secured to each other. A pair of piston rings 84 is confined between the outer edges of the stainpings 80 and 82 and engages the cylinder wall to prevent leakage past the piston.

A tubular piston rod 86 is secured to the piston 18 at its lower end and` is secured at its uplper end to a second piston 88 operating in the upper cylinder 30. This upper piston may be formed in the same manner as the lower piston. A tube 98 extends through the hollow piston rod 86 in spaced relation thereto and has a bent-over upper end 62 passing outwardly through the piston 88 and opening into cylinder 30 below the piston. The lower end of the tube 90 extends into a bore 94 formed in the upper end of the driving rod I8. This bore communicates with the interior of the cylinder 22 below the piston I8 through transverse bores 86. A sealing ring 98 is clamped between the upper end of the driving rod |8 and the lower end f the piston rod 86 and seals against the lower end of the tube 90 to close the annular passage |00 formed between the tube 90 and the piston rod 86. The casting 54 has radial bores |02 communicating with an annular chamber |04 surrounding a sleeve |06 slidable in a central bore in the casting 54. The upper end of this casting has a valve seat |08 engageable by an annular valve part I I0 formed on the upper end of this sleeve. This valve part controls communication between the lower end of the cylinder 30, annular chamber |04, bores |02 and an annular discharge lpassage ||2 formed between the upper end of cylinder 36 and the casting 54.

The lower end of the slidable sleeve |06 is notched, as indicated at II4, and a spring ring ||6 limits upward movement of the sleeve |06. An annular resilient plate ||8 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve |06 and is held in place by a spun over portion |20. The plate |8 is provided with radial slots which divide this plate into a plurality of spring lingers |22 adapted to be engaged by pistons 88, as shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, this piston is shown just prior to the completion of its downward stroke. The remaining downward stroke of this piston vn'll shift sleeve |86 from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure l. This will cause valve part ||0 on the upper end of the sleeve |06 to engage its seat |08 and close the exhaust outlet for the lower end of the cylinder 30. At the same time the notched lower end of the sleeve |86 will engage the neoprene ring' |24, aflixed to the center of the annular valve member 62, and move the center portion of this valve member downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1.

A second sleeve |26 is slidable in the casting 56 and controls exhaust of air from the upper end of the lower cylinder 22, by way of exhaust valve |28, annular chamber |30, radial passages I 32 and annular passage |34. The sleeve |26 is identical with the sleeve |06 and has resilient ngers |36 adapted to be engaged by the piston 18 as the latter approaches the upper end of its stroke. The opposite end of the sleeve |26 is notched, as indicated at |38, and is adapted to engage the' rubber ring |24 to shift the central portion of the main valve member 62. This ring |24 slidably engages the exterior wall of the piston rod 86 and forms a seal therewith.

When the pump is in operation and the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, the air pistons 78 and 88 would be approaching the limit of their downward strokes. In position of the parts shown in Figure 3, air under pressure is supplied to the annular chamber |6 between the main valve member 62 and the lower casting 56, and passes through the slots in the upper end of sleeve |26 into the space |40 between this sleeve and the piston rod 86. This air under pressure ows downwardly through the space |40 into the upper end of the lower cylinder 22 and acts upon the upper side of the piston 'I8 therein to urge this piston downwardly. This air under pressure also passes through the openings |42 in the piston rod 86 and iiows upwardly through the annular passage |00 to` that part of the upper cylinder 30 above the ,upper piston 88 so that the air under pressure also acts on the upper side of this piston to urge it downwardly.

As the pistons '|8 and 88 complete their downward stroke, sleeve |06 is moved downwardly to engage valve part |0 with valve seat |08 and thereby close the exhaust outlet for the lower end of the cylinder 30. This downward movement of the sleeve |06 also shifts the central portion of the main valve member from engagement with its upper valve seat 62 into engagement with its lower valve seat 64, as shown in Figure l. At the same time the lower sleeve |26 is moved downwardly to open the exhaust valve |28 for the upper end of the lower cylinder 22. In this position of the parts, air under pressure iiows upwardly into the lower end of the upper cylinder 30 through annular passage |44 formed between sleeve |05 and piston rod 86. That part of the upper cylinder beneath the piston 88 communicates through tube 90 with that part of the lower cylinder beneath its piston '18, so that air under pressure acts on the lower sides of pistons 'I8 and S8 to urge them upwardly. Air from that part of the lower cylinder above its piston 18 escapes to atmosphere by way of valve |28, cham.- ber |30, bores |32 and annular passage |34. Air fromthat part of the upper cylinder above the upper piston 88 also escapes through exhaust valve |28, since this portion of the vupper cylinder is in communication with the upper portion of the lower cylinder by way of passage |00 and openings |42 in the piston rod 86.

Reciprocation of the pistons 18 and 88 and piston rod 86 results in corresponding reciprocation of the driving rcd I8 which in turn operates the pump mechanismlocated in the lubricant drum. Where this driving rod passes through the lower casting l0, packing |46 is provided to prevent escape of air from the lower end of the cylinder 22 and escape of lubricant from the discharge conduit into this cylinder. This packing is held in place. by a tubular nut |48 screwed into the casting I8, as clearly shown in Figure l. The casting I0 is attached to a. cover I4, as previously described, andl the entire assembly ,is made .as

compact and light in weight as possible in order to facilitate the manual application of this assembly to a lubricant drum and the lmanual removal of such assembly therefrom after the lubricant in the drum has become exhausted.

Particular attention is directed f to the simplicity, reliability and durability of the main valve structure for directing the compressed air to opposite ends of the motor cylinders. This valve mechanism has a single operating member comprising a ilexible metal annulus provided with a ring of neoprene or other suitable material for eiecting a seal with the piston rod. The metal of the flexible member directly contacts the opposed valve seats so that the only wear on the rubber ring is occasioned by the relative slid- .ing ymotion between this rini,r and the piston rod.

The force exerted by the compressed air serves to urge the valve member 92 against its seats and the force pressing this valve member against one of its seats is always proportional to the then existing air pressure.

The other parts of my new and improved air motor are of simple and rugged construction and can readily be manufactured cheaply and with the aid of existing machinery of conventional types. While I have described my novel motor as being particularly adapted for use as an integral part of a portable lubricating pump, my motor is not limited to such use but is capable of general application.

While I have illustrated and described only a l single embodiment of my invention, my invention is not limited to the particular details shown and described in this application but may assume numerous other forms and my invention includes all modifications, variations and equivalents coming within the following claims.

I claim:

l. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a chamber having a pair of opposed annular valve seats,

means for supplying air under pressure to said chamber, passages connecting said chamber with said cylinders, an annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, pistons in said cylinders, and means operated by said pistons for shifting the other edge of said valve alternately-to engage said valve seats to regulate air ow to said cylinders.

2. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valveseat, rings interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a flexible annular valve member having its outer edge clamped between said rings, means for supplying uid under pressure to the space between said castings, a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a tubular rod connecting said pistons, sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, a sleeve slidable in each casting, said sleeves controlling engagement between said valve member and said seats, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said sleeves.

3. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a pair of opposed annular valve seats, means for supplying air under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, an annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, 'In

vmembers in spaced relation, a iiexible annular valve member having its outer edge secured by said means, means for supplying iluid under pressure to the space between said members, a cylinder attached to each member, a piston in each cylinder, a tubular rod connecting said pistons, sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, a sleeve slidable in each casting, said sleeves controlling engagement between said valve member and said seats, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said sleeves.

5. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a pair of opposed annular valve seats, means for supplying air under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, a flexible annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, pistons in said cylinders, sleeves operated by said pistons for shifting the other edge of said valve alternately to engage said valve seats, and exhaust valves controlled by said sleeves.

6. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valve seat, a ring interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a flexible annular valve member having its outer edge secured to said ring,means for supplying i'luid under pressure to the space between said castings, a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a rod connecting said pistons, a rubber ring carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, means slidable in `said castings and controlling engagement between said valve member and sai-d seats, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said means.

y 7. An air motor of the class described, comprising a plurality of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing opposed annular valve seats, means for supplying air under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, an annular valve having an outer edge clamped in said body, pistons in said cylinders, and means operated by said pistons for shifting the inner edge of said valve alternately to engage said valve seats.

8. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valve seat, rings interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a iiexible annular valve member having its outer edge clamped between said rings, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the space between said castings', a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a tubular rod connecting said pistons, sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, a tube connecting said cylinders, a sleeve slidable in each casting, said sleeves controlling engagement between said valve member and said seats, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said sleeves.

9. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a pair of opposed annular valve seats, means for supplying Iair under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, an annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, pistons in said cylinders, means operated by said pistons for shifting the other edge of said valve alternately to engage said valve seats, a pair of tubes connecting said cylinders, and exhaust means for said cylinders.

10. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valve seat, 'rings interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a flexible annular valve member having its outer edge clamped between said rings, means for supplying uid under pressure to the space between said castings, a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a tubular rod connecting said pistons, sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, a tube located in said rod and connecting said cylinders, a sleeve slidable in each casting, said sleeves controlling engagement between said valve member and said seats, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said sleeves.

1l. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a pair of opposed annular valve seats, means for supplying air under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, an annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, 'pistons in said cylinders, and means operated by said pistons for shifting the other edge of said valve alternately to engage said valve seats, a pair of telescoped tubes connecting said cylinders, and exhaust valves for said cylinders.

l2. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair ol annular castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valve seat, means interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a exible annular valve member having its outer edge clamped to said means, means for supplying uid under pressure to the space between said castings, a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a pair of telescoped tubes connecting said pistons, sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging one of said tubes, a sleeve slidable in each casting, said sleeves controlling engagement between said valve member and said seats, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said sleeves.

13. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a pair of opposed annular valve seats, means for supplying air under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, an annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, pistons in said cylinders, a rod connecting said pistons and sealed to said valve, and means operated by said pistons for shifting the other edge of said valve alternately to engage'said valve seats.

14. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valve seat, rings interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a flexible .annular valve member having its outer edge clamped between said rings, means for supplying iluid under pressure to the space between said castings, a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a tubular rod connecting said pistonsy sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, and exhaust means for said cylinders controlled by said pistons.

l5. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of cylinders, a body located between said cylinders, said body providing a pair of op- I posed annular valve seats, means for supplying air under pressure to said body, passages connecting said valve seats with said cylinders, an annular valve having one edge clamped in said body, pistons in said cylinders, sleeves operated by said pistons for shifting the other edge of said valve alternately to engage said valve seats, resilient piston-engaging means carried by said sleeves, and exhaust means for said cylinders.

16. An air motor of the class described, comprising a pair of castings providing an annular chamber therebetween, each of said castings providing an annular valve seat, rings interposed between said castings and holding said castings in spaced relation, a flexible annular valve member having its outer edge clamped between said rings, means for supplying uid under pressure to the space between said castings, a cylinder attached to each casting, a piston in each cylinder, a tubular rod connecting said pistons, sealing means carried by the inner edge of said valve member and engaging said rod, a sleeve slidable in each casting, said sleeves being resiliently operated by said pistons and controlling engagement between said valve member and said seats, and exhaust valves for said cylinders controlled by said sleeves.

GEORGE H. PALM. 

